HOA Pond Maintenance: A Guide for Community Managers

HOA Pond Maintenance: A Guide for Community Managers
How proactive care protects your community’s stormwater infrastructure—and your residents’ peace of mind

Retention ponds play a vital role in today’s residential communities. Beyond their scenic appeal, these engineered waterbodies manage stormwater runoff, protect downstream water quality, and reduce erosion and flooding. But to remain effective, they require ongoing attention and expertise.

At Jones Lake Management, we partner with homeowners associations (HOAs) and property managers across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee to develop and execute sustainable pond care strategies. This guide offers insight into what goes into a healthy, functional pond—and how we can help you protect one of your community’s most important assets.

Understanding Retention vs. Detention Ponds
Before diving into maintenance strategies, it’s important to understand the difference between the two most common types of stormwater ponds:

• Retention ponds (also called wet ponds) are designed to hold a permanent pool of water year-round. They capture stormwater runoff and release it gradually, allowing sediment and pollutants to settle out and be filtered before the water reaches nearby streams or rivers.

• Detention ponds (also known as dry ponds or dry basins) temporarily hold runoff during storm events and are designed to drain completely between rains. Though they don’t typically contain standing water for long periods, they still require vegetation control, erosion management, and debris removal to function effectively.

Both types of ponds are regulated as part of a community’s stormwater infrastructure and must be maintained to meet performance standards and protect downstream systems.

1. Know Your Pond’s Purpose

While ponds are often appreciated for their beauty, their primary role is functional. Retention ponds are designed to collect and store stormwater runoff from surrounding impervious surfaces like roads, sidewalks, and rooftops. They then release that water slowly to reduce flooding and erosion downstream.

These systems also act as water quality filters, capturing pollutants such as sediment, oils, fertilizers, and organic debris. However, if aquatic weeds and algae are allowed to spread unchecked, the pond’s ability to store water and trap pollutants can be significantly reduced. Thick plant growth can clog outlets, restrict flow, and accelerate nutrient cycling, leading to recurring maintenance challenges.

2. Routine Inspections Prevent Bigger Problems

Regular inspections are essential to catch small issues before they become big ones. After heavy rain, community managers should check for signs of shoreline erosion, sediment buildup, clogged inlets or outlets, floating debris, or unusual weed growth.

Early detection of invasive or nuisance aquatic plants can prevent disruptions to stormwater flow and reduce the long-term cost of vegetation control. Plants like cattails, filamentous algae, and duckweed can spread quickly and smother pond surfaces if left unmanaged.

Routine inspections and aquatic vegetation control keep stormwater systems operating efficiently and looking their best.

A well-maintained retention pond enhances both function and curb appeal, serving as a natural focal point within the community.

Strategic aeration improves water quality, prevents stagnation, and adds an attractive design element to community ponds.

Routine inspections and aquatic vegetation control keep stormwater systems operating efficiently and looking their best.

Partnering with a professional lake management team ensures your HOA pond remains clean, compliant, and community-ready year-round.

Native shoreline vegetation helps stabilize pond edges, reduce erosion, and create a visually appealing buffer zone.

3. Stabilize Shorelines and Control Sediment

Unchecked erosion is one of the leading causes of pond degradation. When banks erode, sediment accumulates in the basin, decreasing water storage capacity and creating fertile ground for aquatic weeds. The result: a pond that fills in faster and requires more frequent maintenance. 

Over time, excessive sediment buildup leads to the need for full-scale dredging—a costly, labor-intensive process that often involves permits, heavy equipment, and significant disruption to the community. The good news? Proactive shoreline stabilization and sediment control can delay or even prevent the need for dredging altogether.

In some cases, targeted hydraulic dredging can be used annually or seasonally as a precision tool. This method focuses on specific high-accumulation areas—like around stormwater inlets or coves—without draining the pond or disturbing the entire system. It’s an effective, minimally invasive way to maintain pond capacity and keep the system operating as designed.

Establishing a vegetated buffer around the shoreline helps filter runoff, protect against wave action, and stabilize the soil. Native plantings are particularly effective—they’re hardy, attractive, and supportive of local wildlife.

4. Minimize Nutrient Loading

Excess nutrients—especially nitrogen and phosphorus—are a primary driver of algae blooms and invasive plant outbreaks. Fertilizers, pet waste, grass clippings, and leaf litter often wash into the pond during rain events, fueling the rapid growth of unwanted vegetation. As algae and weeds flourish, oxygen levels drop, odors increase, and the pond’s function and appearance suffer. Over time, this can lead to fish kills, clogged outlets, and resident complaints.

Our team of biologists offers water quality testing and HOA-friendly guidance to help reduce nutrient inputs at the source. When needed, we can apply phosphorus binders to limit algae-fueling nutrients already present in the water, offering a proactive solution that improves clarity and reduces future vegetation outbreaks. We also monitor nutrient trends over time to ensure your pond is moving in the right direction.

5. Aeration Makes a Big Difference

Proper circulation is critical to pond health. Without it, water becomes stagnant, leading to foul odors, mosquito breeding, and low oxygen levels that harm aquatic life. Aeration systems—such as floating fountains or diffused air systems—improve water movement and oxygen distribution throughout the pond. Oxygen-rich water supports beneficial bacteria that break down excess nutrients and organic material. In this way, aeration is not only a tool for beautification but also a key part of functional pond management.

Fountains in particular offer an added bonus: they create visual interest and sound, turning your pond into a centerpiece that adds value and charm to the neighborhood. Residents appreciate the aesthetics, and HOAs benefit from a dual-purpose investment in both appearance and performance.

6. Algae and Weeds

All ponds contain some aquatic vegetation—but when it’s not monitored and managed, it can quickly overrun the waterbody and compromise function. Invasive species like curly-leaf pondweed or Eurasian watermilfoil can outcompete native plants, block drainage structures, and reduce available oxygen.

That’s why aquatic weed management is essential to keeping your pond functional. A reactive approach leads to crisis mode; a proactive strategy ensures long-term balance. Integrated vegetation control combines routine monitoring, mechanical removal, biological tools (like beneficial bacteria or triploid grass carp), and selective herbicide applications as needed.

7. Partner with Professionals

The most successful communities understand that pond care isn’t just a seasonal task—it’s a long-term investment in community infrastructure and resident satisfaction. Working with a professional lake management company ensures your pond remains in compliance with local stormwater regulations, continues to function effectively, and looks great year-round. Professional support gives your community peace of mind, budget predictability, and access to the latest tools and science behind aquatic ecosystem management.

Final Thoughts

Pond maintenance is about more than appearances. It’s about keeping an essential part of your community’s infrastructure functioning properly, safely, and sustainably. Jones Lake Management offers flexible, value-driven service programs that include monthly monitoring, water testing, vegetation control, aeration support, and expert guidance—no matter what stage your pond is in.

Ready to improve your community’s pond health? Jones Lake Management serves HOAs across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee with expert pond management solutions

About Jones Lake Management
Since 1949, Jones Lake Management has been a trusted leader in lake and pond management, delivering scientifically backed solutions to create and maintain healthy, balanced, and beautiful waterbodies. Our expert team offers a full range of services, including fish stocking, fisheries management, water quality monitoring, algae and aquatic weed control, aeration solutions, erosion control, invasive species management, hydraulic dredging, and more. Whether you manage a private lake, an HOA stormwater pond, a golf course water feature, or a municipal waterway, we provide customized solutions to ensure your waterbody remains healthy, functional, and thriving.